Mary Lou Williams - Plays In London '1954 [2013]

Tracks list

Mary Lou Williams traveled to London, England in the winter 1953 and sometime in
1954 for these sessions, likely spaced about a year or so apart, with two
different British rhythm sections, the common denominator throughout being bongo
player Tony Scott. This Vogue album originally titled Mary Lou Williams Plays in
London and issued in the U.S. on the GNP Crescendo label as In London, is back
on Vogue as The London Sessions.

It features several alternate takes that are quite different, a smattering of
Latin infused tracks, standards, a few solo performances, and all of the verve,
spark, soul, and deep intelligence Williams always brought to any performance
area. Of the cuts from 1953 featuring the excellent bassist Allan Ganley and
bassist Ken Napper, the emphasis is on extrapolated swing-to-bop as "Perdido,"
the straight bop of "Lady Bird," Latin tinges tacked onto these tunes, and more
straight Afro-Cuban beats from Scott on the cha cha infused B take of "They
Can't Take That Away from Me." Two hot versions for the smart set of "Titoros"
and one slice of the Williams original "Kool Bongo" – similar in stance
to "Titoros" – are melodic marvels, rhythmically spurred on via Scott by
what some called a trendy gimmick, but actually work well in spiced up parlance.
There are also two different solo piano versions, one clipped and shorter, of
"'Round About Midnight." The other trio date from 1954 has Tony Kinsey on drums
and bassist Lennie Bush, definitely more obscure players. But the results are
quite different, as Williams changes keys higher and lower on versions of "The
Man I Love," and "Yesterdays." Her take of the famous "Flying Home" is very
modified, with a deeper blue hue and indirect nuances of the basic melody. She
takes the Wild Bill Davis evergreen "Azure Te" in a faster bop mode, and does
the mambo with Scott during two versions of "Just One of Those Things." Three
originals of Williams crop up; the evocative sundown cocktail number "Twilight,"
her famous easy swinger "Nickels," and the inquisitive and lonely solo heart
wrencher "Why?" The contrasting moods, techniques, and of course the utter
brilliance of Williams shines through from top to bottom. A valuable document of
her work in this time frame, this is likely a must-have item, not only for fans
of the undisputed first lady in jazz, but for students, educators, and any true
lover of great music.


Tracks:

01 - Perdido
02 - Lady Bird
03 - Don't Blame Me
04 - Titoros
05 - Titoros (alt.)
06 - For You
07 - They Can't Take That Away From Me
08 - They Can't Take That Away From Me (alt.)
09 - Koolbongo
10 - 'Round About Midnight
11 - 'Round About Midnight (alt.)

Mary Lou Williams - piano
Ken Napper - bass
Allan Ganley - drums
Recorded: January 23, 1953 London

12 - Azure-Te
13 - Flying Home
14 - Nickels
15 - Man I Love See
16 - Man I Love See (alt.)
17 - Twilight
18 - Just One of Those Things
19 - Just One of Those Things (alt.)
20 - Why
21 - Yesterdays
22 - Yesterdays (alt.)

Mary Lou Williams - piano
Lenny Bush - bass
Tony Kinsey - drums
Tony Scott - bongos
Recorded: 1954 London

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